Turkish Airlines business class used to be great. What happened?

Business class on Turkish Airlines isn’t what it used to be. On this trip from Istanbul to Abu Dhabi, the product has gotten significantly worse over the years. Learn more about what has changed, but also what’s still good about Turkish Airlines business class.

📝 This video is NOT sponsored. I paid for this trip myself. The airline did not know ahead of time that I was going to make a video, and the views presented are my own. Some product links are affiliate links. If you use them I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

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✈️ Trip details:
Route: Istanbul, Turkey ( IST) to Abu Dhabi, UAE (AUH)
Date: Jan. 14, 2023
Airline: Turkish Airlines (TK)
Aircraft type: Airbus A321neo
Class of service: Business class
Frequent flyer status: Star Alliance Gold (TK Elite)
Paid with: TK points

➡️ Gear I use (affiliate links):

1️⃣ Mirrorless camera:
Canon EOS M50 + EF-M 15-45mm Kit (Mark II):

2️⃣ Wide-angle lens for Canon M50
Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM:

3️⃣ Camera cage for M50
SmallRig M50 /M50 II /M5 Cage:

4️⃣ Android phone
OnePlus 6T. Current model from OnePlus:

5️⃣ Mini tripods/selfie sticks
Manfrotto PIXI
PIXI Kit with smartphone clamp:
Ulanzi MT-34:

6️⃣ Compact microphone for cameras and smartphones
Comica CVM-VM10II mini shotgun mic:

7️⃣ Travel backpack with removable daypack
Osprey Farpoint 55:
Larger version (Farpoint 70):

If you enjoy my work, you can:

⌚ Sections in this video (Turkish Airlines business class used to be great. What happened?):
0:00 | Turkish Airlines business class
0:38 | Istanbul Airport
1:38 | Miles&Smiles Lounge
3:29 | Boarding Turkish Airlines at Istanbul Airport
4:14 | Seat tour on A321neo narrow-body jet
5:23 | In-flight entertainment
6:08 | Other amenities
6:45 | Lavatory tour
7:21 | Meal service
8:33 | Recommendation
9:05 | More reasons to not fly Turkish

🏢 Companies mentioned:
@TurkishAirlines

[locolombia]

I just flew from Miami to Kathmandu, Nepal on business class this past March/2023. There is not enough words for me to say how great the service was. The Cabin crew and also on land. I had flown Qatar airways three years ago, service was good. Suites were amazing . I am definitely flying with Turkish airways again.

[ZRHTrainspotter]

To Abu Dhabi the demand is not high enough for a widebody, and so you get the A321neo, which is also an amazing cabin and product.
Meantime, if you fly to Dubai, you will get a widebody. They only use widebodies to Dubai. The title makes it seem overly drammatic while it actually isnt.

[tinatito]

I always fly Turkish Airlines from Chicago to Iraq

[CSpili]

Hi Markus, regarding the outlets, they are usually hidden underneath the floor, if you know how to spot them. I've seen multiple "openings" at the Business lounge, so I assume it's the same for Miles & Smiles. If you've seen any hotel/conference floor sockets, you can understand what I'm talking about. As for the plane, it might have been a sudden equipment swap, because on a similar route, IST to DXB, we had lie-flat seats and all. My main issue with TK is that they don't have those golf buggy cars transferring people towards their gate. That would be a great thumbs up for them.

[bluensx]

Hi! I’m first to comment. Thank you for the great, honest review. I’m flying them in July IST to BUD. IM not expecting much as far as the flight on this age aircraft, but I am looking forward to the IST lounge food. I’ve watched a lot of negative reviews since the plandemic. United’s Polaris at some point before the plandemic had hope…but on a recent flight from Narita to ewr, it was dismal. The absolute worst long haul soft product and flight attendants that I have ever had. Flat beds are HUGE for me. It is the only reason I pay for business class. Otherwise I’d just eat a damn granola. I’m paying for the seat on long haul or even < 3 hour business class. The lounge experience is nice, but in reality it’s just a brief period.

[nordlands]

Regarding electrical outlets in the IST M&S lounge, there are outlets at the columns at 1:52 and otherwise in the floor at about every other seating group. There are also usb outlets in some round chairs near the entrance that are for taking phonecalls etc.

[Mario-chnl]

LH does offer a flat bed on a 4, 5h flight? No, they dont.
They offer a flat bed on a flight to the UAE cause its about 6, 5h and too long for a A320/321

On a 3, 5-4, 5h flight to LIS/TLV/CAI/LPA they offer an economy seat with blocked middle seat, so TK provides a much better narrow body cabin.

[ranjansamarakone]

I flew TK business class several trips from JFK to BKK, BER and CMB. I had mixed of good, bad and worse experiences between 2019 - 2023. Service was not always good. They used the old rundown aircraft ( Old A330-300 and 777) with damage seats on the JFK sector. Also the food service was not that good on most of my latest flights. At the airport lounge in IST they really need to bring back the food stations 100% back. They only have few open. Not good!

[DiggingNorway]

Clickbait title. Turkish still great product.

[pmpc]

ia am going to go to hong kong to malaga in 2024 this year i think they are very good 👍👌😊

[angelaallen]

Hey all, I gotta say, don't fly Turkish Airlines. Something has changed since late 2021. I fly this route in business class often enough to know. Bad customer service, repeatedly canceled flights, absolutely horrible customer service, they are even limiting services in the lounge like the sleeping rooms, which you are allowed to request if you have a very long layover (which btw is their fault to due previously mentioned cancellations). I'll be taking my business elsewhere. #turkishairlines #worstcustomerservice #neveragain

[UmairActorModel]

Turkish Airlines’ cabin crew members are so disgruntled! I flew on them from LAX-IST in 2019 & they were so rude!! Couldn’t stand them! Disgusting and dismissive behaviors! Speaks a lot about their management and how they don’t train their cabin crew or hold them accountable to premium standards!

[adampotrykus]

It feels like you are unnecessarily neggy in your review.